Dandelion Tilda

Good Saturday morning folks

New Years Eve..... good I am glad to see the back of this particular year. As some of you already know I do not like New Year, I always feel a little melancholy about the passing of another year but this year I am glad to move on. Hopefully 2017 will be kinder healthwise than 2016.

Today I thought I would share a bright, cheerful, summery card to dispel my current mood and for something to look forward to - 

For this card I have used Magnolia's dandelion Tilda which I stamped onto Neenah card and coloured with Spectrum Noir pens and Colourblend pencils - 

• skin - FS2, FS4, FS9, TN2, CR2, peach and saddle brown
• hair - TN6, TN7, TN8, EB5, EB8 and expresso
• clothes - CR2, CR4, CR5, CR6 and mulberry
• flowers - BT4, BT6, BT7, JG4 and JG6
• grass - JG4 and JG6
• sky - IB1 and IB2
• butterflies - BT4, CR4 and EB1

I have also used - 

• Die'sire create-a-card Nicole (to make the card base)
• white/hint of silver centura pearl
• First Edition's Paradise Crush paper pad
• Tonic's layering squares die set
• Spellbinder's lacey ovals die set
• Tattered Lace pearl flourish 7 die set
• Doohickey's vintage daisies and dragonfly die sets
• pearl brad from The Hobby House
• pearl from my stash
• LOTV's sentiments tags stamp set

Well that's all from me for today. I hope your enjoy yourselves this evening however you choose to celebrate and I will see you next year.

Crafty hugs

Lesley

Art deco birthday wishes

Good morning

Friday already and the first week of my holidays gone. We are off to the local cinema this afternoon to see Fantastic Beasts which should be fun and then a takeaway tea - lovely.

Before Christmas I treated myself to an early Christmas present and I have used some of them for this card - 

I have used - 

• Tattered Lace Vintage Vector corner
• Tattered Lace Art Deco Pure Decadence lady
• Tattered Lace Deco card shape
• black and old gold centura pearl
• white linen card
• Sheena stamping card
• scraps of black glitter card
• FS2, FS4, TN2, GB8, GB10 and EB5 Spectrum Noir pens
• Spun gold and onyx black Spectrum Noir Sparkle pens
• black pearls from my stash

I cut the lady from Sheena stanping card and coloured the hair and skin with Spectrum Noir pens. I then coloured the the fan using Sparkle pens and paper pieced her dress and shoes with black glitter card.

Thank you for stopping by today. Enjoy your day however you are spending it.

Crafty hugs

Lesley

2016 review

Good morning folks

Today I am sharing my top ten favourite cards from 2016. If you click on the links below each one you can access the individual blog post.

So in no particular order here we go.........

Number one - 

Best friends

Number two - 

Introducing Verity Rose

Number three - 

Flights of Fantasy - Niamh

Number four - 

Mums rule 

Number five -

Pink dragonflies

Number six - 

Pretty 21

Number seven - 

Teddy bear's picnic

Number eight - 

Paper piecing

Number nine - 

 Edna needs a Martini

Number ten - 

 Time traveller 50th birthday

And just because I couldn't leave this one out - number eleven - 

Tilda and hummingbirds

It is always difficult to pick favourites of anything but I feel these cards show my work at its best and I am very proud of how they all turned out. It is brilliant when something you can see in your mind works on paper too. I do hope I have included some of your favourites too.

Thank you for stopping by today

Crafty hugs

Lesley

Last Christmas card for 2016

Afternoon folks

Back for the final time today to share my last Christmas card for 2016. This is the card I made for my hubby - 

I have used - 

• white centura pearl
• purple mirri board from Hunkydory
• Sara's signature collection - Traditional Christmas - entwined holly and Festive greeting dies
• Spellbinder's labels 54
• purple pearls from my stash

Well that is all my Christmas cards for 2016. I'll be back later in the week with something new.

Crafty hugs

Lesley

Another Christmas card

Hello again

I'm back to share another of my Christmas cards, this is one I made for my youngest son - 

This time I have used Oliver - Christmas jumper from LOTV which I have coloured with Spectrum Noir pens and Sparkle pens - 

• skin - FS4, FS9, TN2 and CR2
• hair - EB3, EB6 and EB8
• clothes - VB1, VB2, VB3, TB5, TB6, TB7, FS4, TN2, DR1, IG1, IG3 and crystal clear Sparkle pen
• wrapping paper - DR1, DR5, DR6 and DG3
• carpet - TN3, TN4 and TN7
• sky - IB1

I have also used - 

• Bo Bunny Elf Magic paper pad
• Sparkly star mirri board from Hunkydory
• Tonic layering squares, layering circles and layering scalloped circles die sets
• LOTV Christmas sentiments
• silver ribbon from my stash
• Spellbinder's scalloped circles nesties
• tumbled glass distress ink
• Tonic Nuvo drops

Thank you for stopping by again. See you later with my last Christmas card for this year.

Crafty hugs

Lesley

Last Christmas cards

Good morning folks

Not really got any plans for today. My parents are taking my younger children to see a pantomine so I have a little time to myself. Time to hit the crafty stash me thinks.

Today I thought I would share the last of my Christmas cards for this year. This was one I made for my daughter - 

I have used Jasmine - Christmas presents from LOTV (I have inadvertently bought this twice - whoops!! Note to self - check your stamps before you buy more!!) which I coloured with Spectrum Noir pens and Sparkle pens - 

• hair - TN4, TN6, TN9 and EB8
• skin - FS2, FS4, FS9, TN2 and CR2
• clothes and presents - VB1, VB2, VB3, AG2, AG3, AG4, CR7, CR8, CR11, PP1, PP2 and PP3
• snow - IG1, IG2 and crystal clear Sparkle pen
• sky - sea breeze Sparkle pen

I have also used - 

• white hammered card
• Penny Black Holiday Trimmings paper pad
• LOTV Christmas sentiments
• Sue Wilson's poinsettia additions die set
• Sheena stamping card
• red berry Sparkle pen
• Spellbinder's snowflake view die set and scalloped circle nestie
• Tonic Nuvo drops
• tumbled glass distress ink
• ribbon from my stash

I cut the dies from Sheena stamping card and then coloured the complete flowers with Red berry Sparkle pen.

Thank you for stopping by today. I'll be back later with another Christmas make.

Crafty hugs

Lesley

Just like a bus

Hello again

Odd post title I know but it is a local saying - buses always come in threes!!

My final Spectrum Noir TV DT make using the Colorista Background 1 stamp. This time I have kept things very simple - 

I have used - 

• Colorista background 1 stamp
• Colorista card blank
• Colorista pens - coral, nectarine, cobalt, cerulean, lipstick, rose red, daffodil, canary, gold, pear green, forest green and blue pearl
• Die'sire happy birthday die
• black centura pearl

That's all from me today. I will be back tomorrow with my last Christmas makes for this year.

Crafty hugs

Lesley

Colorista birthday wishes

Hello again

Another DT make to share with you again using the Colorista background 1 stamp but this time I also used the Colorista elements 1 stamp set too.

For this card I used - 

• Colorista background 1 and elements 1 stamp sets
• Colorista pens - coral, nectarine, cobalt, cerulean, lipstick, rose red, daffodil, canary, gold, pear green, forest green and blue pearl
• Crafter's Companion embossing folder (sorry I do not know it's name. It is very old but a firm favourite of mine)
• black and white/hint of silver centura pearl
• ribbon and pearls from my stash

Thank you for stopping by again today.

Crafty hugs

Lesley

Colorista love

Hello folks

Today is pj and DVD day in our house. We eat leftovers and watch all the DVDs we have been given for Christmas although I will not be sharing Game of Thrones series 6 with my kids (hardly suitable festive viewing but fabulous none the less).

Today's card is another made recently for the Spectrum Noir TV design team.

The Colorista background 1 stamp is A6 in size but I wanted to show the versatility of it by just selecting a small part of the stamp for the focal point of my card. I kept the rest of the card fairly simple to highlight the stamp.

For my card I used - 

• Colorista background 1 stamp
• Colorista pens - sets 4, 5 and 6 - cyan, pear green, forest green, canary, gold, nectarine, cream, hot pink, burgundy, sorbet and magenta
• white gel pen
• white centura pearl
• purple core'dinations
• Sheena's stamping card
• Die'sire create-a-card Rosie die
• Die'sire essentials hearts die set
• Sara's signature collection - love and romance - I love you die set
• Sara's signature collection - love and romance - in love embossing folder
• Pebeo silver gilding wax
• seedless preserve distress ink

Thank you for stopping by today. I'll be back later today with another DT make.

Crafty hugs

Lesley

Holiday Sparkle

Good morning folks and a very happy Boxing day

I hope you are all having a relaxing holiday. The build up to Christmas has been extremely hectic hence the lack of posts recently. I didn't finish work until Friday night, what's unusual about that I hear you cry but in a school it is extremely unusual, so I spent most evenings trying to get prepared for the big day. I always cook Christmas lunch for my family (and extended family) so I wanted to be prepared. It went well; lunch was on the table for 3pm and everything was cooked to perfection all at the same time, something that always causes my stress levels to rise. 

So now my work is complete (it is my sister's turn today!) and I can get on with some blogging and crafting. Santa gave me some crafting goodies which I can't wait to play with and I treated myself to a little crafty gift or two too so I am keen to get into my craftroom.

Today I am playing catch up with some Spectrum Noir TV DT makes which were on the telly recently with Fiona. 

For this card I have used - 

• Colorista Elements 1 stamp set
• Colorista card blanks
• Spectrum Noir Holiday Sparkle pens - starry star, red berry, hearth and spun gold
• Die'sire Merry Christmas die
• Old gold centura pearl
• Tonic bright gold Nuvo crystal drops 

For this card I have used the same stamp and pen set but created a completely different looking card.

I used -

• Colorista Elements 1 stamp set
• Colorista card blanks
• Spectrum Noir Holiday Sparkle pens - macaroon, onyx black, holly leaf, emerald, spun gold, fig, hearth, sterling silver and smoked quartz
• Sheena stamping card
• Die'sire Thank you die (which I cut from Sheena stamping card and coloured with macaroon Sparkle pen)
• Sara's signature collection - butterfly and lullaby collection - flit and flutter die (again cut from Sheena stamping card and coloured with the Sparkle pens)

Enjoy the rest of your Boxing day however you are spending it. I am off to eat Quality Street and watch my new Poldark DVD - bliss.

Crafty hugs

Lesley

Christmas wishes

Merry Christmas to you all and very best wishes for 2017.
See you all soon with more crafting.
Crafty hugs
Lesley

Christmas roses

Good morning folks

How are we all today? Getting on with your Christmas preparations? I am a little behind with my shopping due to the laryngitis but I have managed to get quite a few gifts on line which have now all been delivered. I still have cards to write (and make!!) but that is a job for this weekend. 

Enough of Christmas... back to crafting, When I saw the free gift with issue 157 of Simply Cards and Papercraft magazine I just had to buy it.

I am fairly new to Altenew stamps but love them already. This set included a die for the roses too which is always useful. I stamped onto Sheena stamping card using Memento inks and then cut out the flowers with the die. 

For my card I used - 

• Sheena stamping card (for stamping and the card base)
• Memento inks
• Tonic Nuvo drops - bright gold
• tumbled glass distress ink

Thank you for stopping by today.

Crafty hugs
Lesley

A taste of spring

Good morning everyone

My last Colorista card for you today.

I have used - 

• Colorista card kit - Say it with flowers
• Colorista pens - pear green, forest gree, gold, daffodil, nectarine, coral and pearl blue
• tumbled glass distress ink

Thank you for stopping by today.

Crafty hugs

Lesley

Sunflowers

Happy Monday morning everyone

I am back at work today. My voice is a bit temperamental but I am going to test its limits. Wish me luck. 

I am hoping to get back to some colouring too this week. I still have my family Christmas cards and a couple of birthday cards to make so I really need to find my mojo asap.

Today's card is another one made using Colorista card kit -

I have used - 

• Colorista card kit - Butterfly garden
• Colorista pencils - set 1 and set 5

Short and sweet post today. Thank you for stopping by.

Crafty hugs

Lesley

A rose by anyother name....

Happy Sunday folks

My voice is returning slowly so I'll be back to work tomorrow testing its limits. I will be taking it easy tho, there is no way I want to spend Christmas in silence. 

I haven't spent much time in my craftroom this week (too busy feeling sorry for myself) so today's card is another one made using the Colorista card kit - 

I have used - 

• Colorista card kit - Say it with flowers. This kit has glittered areas which colour and blend so beautifully. Hopefully you can see this on the photo.
• Colorista pens - pear green, forest green, lipstick, burgundy and blue pearl
• tumbled glass distress ink - to ink the outer edge of the card

Right off to tackle the ironing now - if I ever win the lottery I am employing a person to do this job!!

Thank you for stopping by.

Crafty hugs

Lesley

Clean and simple Christmas

Good morning folks

I can squeak!!!!! Hooray!!! But very quietly..... I am still resting it but there is definitely something there.

It is my turn to make the midweek motivation for the current challenge - CAS Christmas at Fantasy Stampers. Here is my card - 

I have used Woodware's Mr Frosty stamp which I stamped onto Sheena's stamping card and then coloured with Spectrum Noir 

pens - 

• hat - MB2, MB3 and MB4
• snowman and snow - IG1, IG2 and crystal clear Sparkle pen
• scarf - VB1, VB2 and VB3
• buttons - GY2 and GY4
• carrot nose - BO2 and BO4

I have also used - 

• white/hint of silver centura pearl
• platinium centura pearl
• teal core'dinations
• Tonic Bowscale die set

Why not join our challenge this fortnight: stop by the website here.

Thank you for stopping by. Have a good weekend.

Crafty hugs

Lesley

Mandala

Hello folks

Still no sign of my voice returning. It really is quite frustrating, I can't even talk to the cat!! Still not doing much crafting either so I am blogging instead; a bit of a one sided conversation I'll admit but a way of expressing myself.

Today's card is another one of the Colorista card making kits called Eastern Promise which I coloured with Colorista pencils.

I have used - 

• Colorista card making kit - Eastern Promise
• Colorista pencils set 1 and set 4

Another quick post, I am going to attempt to make my sister's birthday card today. Not holding out much hope (Mr Mojo has disappeared as well as my voice) but I'll have a play with some new stamps I recently purchased (being ill and internet access is an expensive combination!!)

Enjoy your day. Thank you for stopping by

Crafty hugs

Lesley

Work hard

Hello folks

Well it is still all quiet here - no voice yet. Still trying not too talk, hopefully it will return soon. I am not really in a crafting mood so I thought I would post another of my recent DT makes - 

I have used - 

• Colorista card kit - Floral Inspirations
• Colorista pens - forest green, rose red, cerulean, denim, sandstone, cream and rose blush

Short and sweet today. Enjoy your day.

Crafty hugs

Lesley

Peachy 18th birthday

Good morning folks

Well I was definitely tempting fate with my optimism on Monday. My voice has been dodgy for a few weeks now but on Monday it packed its bags completely so I am under strict instructions to rest my voice ie. no talking. Have you any idea how hard it is not to speak? I have tried using my very limited Makaton but have now reverted to pen and paper in order to communicate. I have taken refugeon the sofa with a box set of The Musketeers for company. Not feeling sorry for myself at all!! My family are celebrating the peace!!

Today's card is one I made recently to celebrate a family member's birthday - 

It is actually shades of peach not as orange as the photos show.

I have used - 

• Tonic's Jamine Sunset layering die set
• Tonic's Chevron Number 1 die
• Tonic's Striped Number 8 die
• Tonic's Royal Fern die set
• Die-namics plentiful petals die set
• Ivory centura pearl (for the card base)
• peach core'dinations
• Die'sire Happy Birthday die
• pearl from my stash

So that's all from me today. I am off to watch more Musketeers in silence!!

Thank you for stopping by.

Crafty hugs

Lesley

Easter Promises

Happy Monday everyone

Well another week begins and it is going to be a busy one for me. We have the school fair on Friday and our stall is looking a little bare so myself and a colleague will be busy with the children getting our penguins and snowmen biscuits ready for Friday.

Today's card is another made using the new Colorista card kits -

I have used - 

• Colorista Eastern Promise card kit
• Set 2 and 3 of the Colorista pencils

Off to work then. Thank you for stopping by today.

Crafty hugs

Lesley

Butterfly garden

Good morning folks

Firstly apologies for my lack of posts recently - I am not feeling 100% and I have been snowed under with work projects (it is that time of year again) and DT work.

Here is another of my recent Spectrum Noir TV design team makes - 

This is a card made with one of the new Colorista card making kits. These are pre-printed card blanks, this one is foiled (some are glittered) which include envelopes and inserts to complete your card. This one is from the butterfly garden set and I have coloured it with set 1, set 2 and set 6 of the Colorista pencils.

Right back to the craft desk - final sample to finish. Thank you for stopping by today

Crafty hugs

Lesley

Follow your heart

Good morning

A quick post today. This is one of the recent cards I made for the one day wonder shows on Hochanda today. Fiona Clayton is showcasing some new Colorista products which includes some fabulous new card kit. For this card I have used the Floral Inspirations kit and the Colorista pens - 

I used the following products - 

• Colorista pens - cream, blue pearl, sorbet, magenta, purple, pale mint, pistachio and leaf green
• Floral Inspirations Colorista card kit

Fiona's shows are 9am, 12pm, 4pm and 7pm. 

Right I am off to defrost my car and head off to work. Enjoy your day, keep warm.

Crafty hugs

Lesley 

Time traveller 50th birthday

Hello folks

Ah the weekend - and relax....

This week my hubby celebrated his 50th birthday and today we are having a family party for him. This is the card I made to celebrate his big day - 

(Apologies for the picture quality - it was a rather dull day)

Once again I have been playing with the gorgeous Time Traveller range from Sheena Douglass but I also challenged myself to use the Spectrum Noir Illustrator pens. They are very different from my Spectrum Noir pens (defo my favourite colouring medium and my comfort zone). You have to use the lightest touch with the brush nibs and you seem to be able to add so much more shading without saturating the paper. Not sure how they work but I am sure with more practice I will love these pens as much as my Speccies. For my card today I used Steampunk man stamp which I coloured as follows - 

• skin - eggshell, linen, pale tan, muted brown and soft brown
• lips - pale tan, muted brown and soft brown
• eyes - true blue, black and a white gel pen
• clothes - russet, leather, henna, ice grey 2 and ice grey 6
• hair - ice grey 2, ice grey 6, black, IG7 and IG9 (Spectrum Noir pens)

I also used - 

• matt black card
• Sheena's stamping card
• Sheena's Time Traveller - timepieces stamp and dies
• Sheena's Time Traveller - geared up stamp and die sets
• Sheena's Time Traveller - time pieces stamp and die sets
• Tonic striped number 0 and number 5 dies
• Pebeo silver and king gold gilding wax
• Spectrum Noir Sparkle pen - starry sky (for the background)
• old paper, antique linen and brushed corduroy distress inks

I created the background using a technique I saw Sheena demo on the telly box. I used a piece of Sheena stamping card and a Spectrum Noir Sparkle pen to create a colourwash background, then spritzed with water and blotted with kitchen roll to create the starry sky.

I cut the cogs from matt black card and then rubbed with gilding wax. These look really bright in the photo but are much more muted in real life.

To create the texture on the numbers a stuck cogs onto the numbers before rubbing the gilding waz on and then trimmed with scissors.

Right that's me finished for today. I am now going to create a storm in the kitchen. 

Enjoy your weekend

Lesley